Spurs exercise options on Leonard, Joseph

SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs announced Monday that have exercised their fourth-year options on small forward Kawhi Leonard and backup point guard Cory Joseph, keeping both players with the team through the 2014-15 season.

Leonard has been a regular starter for the Spurs since trading for him on draft night in 2011, averaging 9.8 points in his 122 appearances. The San Diego State product has improved steadily in that span, with none other than head coach Gregg Popovich predicting impending stardom after his first campaign with the Spurs.

Leonard was one of the bright spots of a brutal seven-game loss to Miami in last season’s Finals, during which he averaged 14.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He averaged a team-high 12.6 points in 18.2 minutes during the preseason.

Joseph’s stint with the Spurs has been far less meteoric, punctuated by multiple stints in the D-League with the Austin Toros. By the end of last season, however, Joseph was serving as Tony Parker’s backup.

Joseph, the 29th pick out of Texas in 2011, is averaging 3.2 points in 57 appearances with the Spurs. He’s averaged 4.0 points in 15.5 minutes during the preseason, and was outplayed at times by fellow reserve Patty Mills.

Leonard will make $2.9 million in 2014-15, while Joseph will earn $2.02 million